30 Before And After Shots That Show How Much Effort Is Put Into Hollywood SFX Makeup
The amount of time and effort, sweat, and tears that go into making movies is impressive. Just take a look at the intricacies required in applying special effects makeup on Hollywood actors. Even characters who we think don’t need any professional makeup can take hours and hours to get ready for the set. Not to mention how much effort goes into making fantasy and sci-fi characters look believable.
To show you just how much work it takes to do Hollywood-tier makeup, we’ve collected some of the best before and after, as well as step-by-step pictures. For example, who knew that making Thorin Oakenshield look like, well, Thorin Oakenshield was a very involved process? And here we thought that putting on a wig was all it took!
Keep on scrolling, upvote your fave face transformation pics, and share them with your movie-loving friends. When you’re done, have a look at Bored Panda’s previous post about incredible pics of actors before and after applying special effects makeup.
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Naomi Grossman, American Horror Story Series
i watched this series. can't believe that's how she looks like without make up.
Wow!! I didn’t know that the actress who plays Pepper looked like that! That is some great makeup!
OMG They made a beautiful woman into a hideous monster! I can hardly believe it!
Well, the show IS 'American Horror Story'. They obviously wanted a horrific female character. When they did the Planet of the Apes series, the apes had full head masks, ans IIRC, it *still* took the 6-8 hours (yes, I said hours) to do their full make-up. The actors said they slept in the chair.
Load More Replies...Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire
Not only actor, incredibly wonderful human being as well.
Load More Replies...A friend of mine was his neighbor in the San Fran area and said Robin often joined him when he was walking his dog. This was shortly before we lost him. He said he was very nice and was as shocked as he was when he got the news. So sad.
I feel like they can’t really do this anymore especially for comedic reasons
Eddie Murphy, Coming To America
The life of a Hollywood movie makeup artist is difficult and involved, even if it’s exciting and purposeful. But makeup artists aren’t one homogenous group of professionals.
You have 4 main movie makeup artist roles. Starting with key makeup artists who design the makeup looks worn by the lead actors. In other words, they take care of the famous actors.
They also come up with the more complicated and intricate makeup designs and oversee other employees to make sure that there’s visual continuity and consistency in how the makeup looks throughout shooting the entire movie.
Richard Brake, Game Of Thrones
Six hours makeup, 30 minutes costume ....... Welcome!
Load More Replies...For how short most of screen time was you’d think they’d just cgi it
An article I read said the studios have found that the more realistic CGI looks, the less people want to see it. It said people feel weird and instinctively turned off when CGI becomes indistinguishable from reality. So, they still do the full makeup-on-human whenever possible.
Load More Replies...I'm pretty sure I don't have the patience to create something so intricate. Kudos to the make-up artists!
It takes hours and hours to get the make-up applied. Then the filming can begin. That is why working on a film usually mean a 12 to 16 hour day. Longest day I have had working BG (Background) was 22 hours. They always feed us well! LOL!
Richard Brake played him in season 4 & 5, Vladimir Furdik played him from season 6 onward.
Load More Replies...Wait... did they shave is hair???? Or is it a bald cap??? I really can't tell :/
Charlize Theron, Monster
Yet in the first picture she is fully made-up, so how can you tell?
Load More Replies...The makeup is great but she also gained some weight for the role. So it's not all SFX
It doesn't make it known on the pics but she had to pack on quiet a bit of weight too.
Unrealistic. The weight gain wouldn't have caused the shape of her nose to change. .... It's blatantly obvious she's had plenty of surgery since monster including rhinoplasty.... She's a firecracker but even more so since having things surgically altered unlike most non movie stars who can't afford surgery to appear perfect x
She's had her nose corrected since monster so the so claimed before foto is absolutely not before. There's no physical way of making her nose smaller without a surgical rhinoplasty.... Completely unrealistic. The weight gain wouldn't completely change the shape of her nose. Only the size very maybe the width...
Doug Jones, Crimson Peak
He also was Abe Sapien in "Hell Boy" and the water creature in "The Shape Of Water".
He also played the role of the "Faun" in Pan's Labyrinth and learned Spanish for the role! Pretty darn amazing. (I love Del Toro's work-- twisted, allegorical fairy-tales for adults. )
Load More Replies...He's got a lot of acting credits, but most recently as Commander Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.
I love Doug Jones, he plays so many great "monster" characters. He's also always 100% identifiable though because of his unique hand movements XD
This red ghost from the movie is one of the freakiest things I've ever seen on screen. Horrifying stuff.
Guillermo del Toro’s “Crimson Peak” - a delightfully disturbing film. The Victorian style costumes are really gorgeous in the film. Guillermo del Toro also brought us one of the most disturbing monsters in cinema (in my opinion)- El hombre pálido (the pale man) from Pan’s Labyrinth. Still gives me the w*****s.
Load More Replies...Then there are your run-of-the-mill makeup artists who are responsible for making non-lead and supporting actors look good. They’re under orders to turn the key makeup artists’ visions into reality.
Of course, not much would be done without makeup assistants who help organize makeup kits, do other small but necessary tasks, and lend a hand to the artists with whatever they might need. They’re the unsung heroes of every movie.
Lastly, there are special effects makeup artists who probably have some of the coolest jobs in the movie industry. They create special makeup effects, such as prosthetics and the like.
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
There is a reason why this movie won an oscar folks, just watch it!
Yeah this one, if I hadn't read before that it was Gary Oldman I wouldn't have recognized him
Richard Armitage, The Hobbit
Hint: it is also actually mentioned in the text ;-)
Load More Replies...It seems to me they could have taken a man similar to the final effect and just give him big ears, maybe a wig.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Dude just looks like some random dude with big ears. Quite unnecessary to put so much effort in it.
Load More Replies...I know this sounds mean but he is so handsome with the make-up, I'm a little disappointed to see this. Though, Richard Armitage is fine too.
Danny DeVito, Batman Returns
Not at all. They were doing this at least 30 years before that. Incredible work.
Load More Replies...He has filmed in Baltimore, Maryland before. Sad that Mr. DeVito's real personality was more like the Penguin's, per many locals that had the displeasure of meeting him in person. Great make-up though.
I know someone who looks EXACTLY like the second photo. No effects.
Karen Gillan, Avengers
I'll never forget the video of her taking her wig off a Comic Con and no one had any idea why she was bald! 😂
Happy she is getting some great parts after her success in Dr Who.
One thing great about make-up--when it's off, no one will recognize you!
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator
Is the Syfy series "Face Off" still on? That's a great look at classic makeup techniques, plus they value the teamwork and sportsmanship of the contestants.
He once walked into a cafe with the makeup still on by mistake.
Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool 2
Confidence is key and this kid has it! Bring on another great incarnation, we (public) ARE waiting! Way to do IT! You go and show us how it's done!
This is so much better than the burn makeup in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake.
Chris Hemsworth, Avengers Endgame
They're fat, therefore they're prominent. Any fatter, and he'd need a bra.
Load More Replies...It is A Great Job Done! But, Still Doubt WHY An Asgardian's body does the Same as A Human's body. Asgardians should have A Different set of DNA composition from the set of Humans due to the Different Natural Habitat! LOL
Hey, you do nothing but sits and eats and get drunk, you get fat. Ask any cat who's been fat-shamed on line.
Load More Replies...Gary Oldman, Hannibal
This dude can turn into anybody and he never ages. I call vampire ! In 1994, when he 'played' Dracula, I bet he wasn't even acting. They just filmed what he did on, like, a Wednesday, and that was the movie awesome !
That separates the good from the mediocre actors. Good actors become the character they have to play, mediocre (try to) play it.
Load More Replies...I had no idea that was Gary Oldman behind the make-up. O.o That was one terryfying SFX make.-up!!
From which movie is it from? I recognize it so much, but I can't remember, and it drives me crazy 🤪 someone nice can tell?
Hannibal (2001), the second movie in the Lecter Trilogy
Load More Replies...Gary takes us into another scary journey with this character! This is another great character actor! Great Work!
Holy s**t!!! I didn't know Gary Oldman played Mason!!! He's an awesome actor and the FX is amazing!!!
While I've heard of him this is the first time that I've seen Hannibal without the mask on, and... oh boy is it shocking!
As HorrorWeirdo shared, it is the character Mason Verger from the book and movie Hannibal. Hannibal Lecter convinced Mason Verger to cut his own face and feed it to dogs. Mason was a child molester.
Load More Replies...I just watched the 3.series show Hannibal on Amazon Prime. It was amazing.
John Rhys-Davies, Lord Of The Rings
I love the behind the scenes footage of him throwing his last "face" in a fire XD
Load More Replies...OMG i swear i was the only person watching that show growing up LOL
Load More Replies...Plus, there was all the forced perspective and body doubles to shrink this fairly large man down to dwarf size!
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Ron Perlman, Hellboy
EXACTLY! Such a shame they replaced him in the latest movie. It simply wasn't the same.......
Load More Replies...i watched him in Beauty and the Beast! he made an excellent lion-dude
Vincent had the soul of a poet and the heart of a lion. His appearance reflected both.
Load More Replies...That was a really stupid look. It just didn't seem to look like anything alive.
He's the son of a demon. I would hope he doesn't look like, say, your next door neighbor!
Load More Replies...I'd like to see the transformation from Ron to The Beast. I had a crush on him as a (weird and hormonal) teenage girl
The new "Hellboy" is weird. Ron Perlman will always be the only real "Hellboy". Great movie.
He was and is the only Hellboy. Some caricters can only be acted by one person only.
I've never seen characters spelled that way before...
Load More Replies...Ian Mckellen, Lord Of The Rings
Tim Curry, Legend
one of the best makeup jobs ever, PERIOD. Actually, the movie blows balls, but all of the creature and makeup is top notch.
Load More Replies...They made it so the horns could come off, since they were so heavy Tim Curry could barely keep his head up when shooting scenes. So they'd shoot the scene, then have someone come over and take them off so he could rest, then put them back on for the next scene, etc, etc.
Load More Replies...Every time I see this movie, I wonder if Cubby Broccoli ever forgave Ridley Scott for accidentally burning down the 007 Soundstage at Pinewood Studios.
Uhm.... Tim Curry isn't dead. Unless it's happened right while I'm typing this.
Load More Replies...Bill Skarsgård, It
But the rolling eye thing was hos own preformance! I loved that BP post 😂
One of my fave post too... totally freaked Bill Hader out
Load More Replies...Omg omg I’m going to watch this movie and god am I excited! This is amazing!
Really quite the transformation! Hyena/Bear cross I believe was the expression the actor was asked to import into the creation of this character (IT)! What GREAT WORK!
Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice
This is my favorite all time movie. Came out in the exaxt same day I was born
Emma Thompson, Nanny Mcphee
The return of nanny Mcfee wasn't as good as I was hoping. The first one was so cute then.... that
Jacob Tremblay, Wonder
I honestly think it would have been way better if they had had someone with that disorder play Auggie.
The movie is Wonder. It was based off a book called Wonder, and has another in the series called Auggie and me.
Load More Replies...Roddy Mcdowall, Planet Of The Apes
8 hours in the chair before they ever start filming. (Remember, they did the hands, and sometimes the feet, too.) I understand the actors learned to sleep through the make-up process.
Somehow, you can still see Roddy underneath. I suppose it's because his eyes were not as hidden/enhanced as they would be in more modern SFX makeup.
Well, remember too that they were intentionally 'humanizing' the apes.
Load More Replies...Glad this effect got a mention, it's a classic, John Chambers created all the make ups for the original planet of the apes movies. It's part of the success of the films and TV series.
Jim Carrey, How The Grinch Stole Christmas
The process of putting the makeup on was so long and grueling that he got training on how to endure torture!
That and he's claustrophobic which does not help
Load More Replies...It's a Christmas tradition that and Christmas vacation
Load More Replies...Tilda Swinton, Grand Budapest Hotel
How could they leave out her transformation into an old man in Suspiria, or her seemingly not-fx transformation into a stunningly gorgeous executive in Trainwreck or her awful-character role in Snowpiercer? All three were a much greater change of appearance than many on this list. She has undergone more radical makeups than any other actor.
Load More Replies...Oh, gawd... silicone prosthetics! Such a nightmare to work with! They did a great job though!
The makeup on her face. You must be as blind as her character....
Load More Replies...Eddie Redmayne, The Theory Of Everything
You mean, after he gets in makeup to play Hawking? So shocking...
Load More Replies...Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
I couldn't really watch that scene, and I can't ever watch this movie again because of it
Load More Replies...Sidebar - I recently read that the real-life Revenant guy forgave the men who abandoned him. That takes guts!
It doesn’t look as realistic in this picture as it does in the movie.
Angelina Jolie, Maleficent
She would make a great Morticia Addams if they ever do another live-action version. But I don't know if she can be funny.
So I wonder if the women with all the cheek filler realize how close this is to their freaky look?
I swear those cheek bones could cut something lol, I love Angelina Jolie and the second Maleficent is so good!! There’s one scene that she looks so damn beautiful!!! It’s after she gets rescued
Christian Bale, Vice
Ian Holm, Lord Of The Rings
Jack Nicholson, Batman
Brendan Gleeson, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Doug Jones, Pan's Labyrinth
I couldn't be because there were electronics below the mask itself.
Load More Replies...Remember ages ago when McDonald's premiered that creepy "Mac Tonight" character? Yes, that was...Doug Jones!
Such a fantastical movie had to watch it a few times to get everything out of it. So much to see.
Jim Carrey, Mask
When I play the Maracas I go - Chick chicky boom, Chick chicky boom
Load More Replies...Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands
Johnny Depp just can't do anything wrong when it comes to hair and makeup !
Marlon Brando, The Godfather
I thought there wasn't very much makeup on Brando, just his old age fat.
Johnny Depp, Alice In Wonderland
Nicole Kidman, Destroyer
Hugo Weaving, Captain America
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Every picture ever may or may not be with cgi help.
Load More Replies...Johnny Depp, Black Mass
Tim Curry, It
Not nearly as impressive as Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise. That was in top ten.
I was terrified when Pennywise digs the graves and says something like "There's room for one more!"
Never saw either movie (dont do horror) but this is such a friendly looking clown in comparison to the new one
this one is almost more disturbing to me personally, it just looks more real. although the new one is definitely more impressive
Load More Replies...John Hurt, The Elephant Man
Nicholas Hoult, X-Men
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Suicide Squad
Mila Kunis, Oz The Great And Powerful
still nothing compared to what margaret hamilton went through in the original wizard of oz (if you don't know, it's an amazing story)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thevintagenews.com/2017/07/22/margaret-hamilton-the-wicked-witch-of-the-west-suffered-3rd-degree-burns-while-making-the-wizard-of-oz/amp/. (:
Load More Replies...Margot Robbie, Mary Queen Of Scots
this is the cross between pennywise and the queen of hearts (live action)
Aski, having snow while skin and fair hair was the ideal beauty standard during the Elizabethan era in England. Fair skin was a sign of nobility. Women would actually use white foundations called ceruse that contained some really toxic ingredients. The foundation was applied to the face, bossom, , and neck. Women also went so far to dye their hair using things like urine. Sometimes women would even shave their heads and wear wigs instead. Beauty standards are weird!
Load More Replies...I think this looks bad because they wanted it to be accurate. White makeup in those times contained a lot of lead, which lead to skin detoriation, which lead to them applying even more makeup, chances are that mary actually looked a lot like this...
Load More Replies...Angelina Jolie, Salt
Ralph Fiennes, Harry Potter Series
This doesn't really count because some of this is CGI, not physical makeup.
I love him and young Tom riddle they just the best bc now young Tom riddles a fricken model and hot and a movie star lmao
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Kelly Stables, The Ring 2
Val Kilmer, Cinema Twain
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
The guy with the skull and crossbones ring must be a great sfx makeup artist, I've seen his ring in a few different photos here!
Why can't anyone read? It says the movie after the actor's name.
Load More Replies...Jennifer Lawrence, X-Men: Days Of Future Past
I disagree strongly mystique was never a minor character and Jennifer Lawrence is an amazing actress
I agree, Alexandria. Shart, have you seen American Hustle? Jennifer Lawrence was very good in other movies as well, her performance in AH was truly amazing.
Load More Replies...Peter Sarsgaard, Green Lantern
I'm most amazed at the ones where you didn't even notice they had any prosthetics on. They look so natural, with very subtle changes that really drive the character home.
This shows how talented the men and women of the make-up, wardrobe and physical effects teams on films are. They should get much more recognition than just one little oscar for their whole job. I am amazed and impressed by their talent
I wonder how hot and uncomfortable it is under all of that? It must feel so good to get it all removed at the end of the day.
This post should include people who started special effects makeup; people like Jack P Pierce and D**k Smith. I could geek out on this stuff all day, the amount of creativity and time that goes into this work is amazing. I would say that from this post Doug Jones, Nicole Kidman, Gary Oldman, Eddie Murphy and Tilda Swindon are the best actors that can perform in makeup.
When a fantasy character has to be created or when an actor has to play his older self in the same movie, I get it that make-up is really important - and the shown results here are outstanding. But sometimes it seems that better someone else should have been casted. Like Nicole Kidman in Destroyer and Margot Robbie (both in the extended series). Why change someone into another someone? Looks like art for arts sake.
Seems that Gary Oldman may be the #1 Actor to have SFX Make-UP Applied on A Single Role as to the number of the films he has starred while Eddie Murphy may be the #1 Actor in the Most Roles SFX Make-UP Applied on in multiple films! THIS Opinion, is NOT solely based on this post, though.
Asombrada y maravillada por el increíble trabajo de éstos artistas, que pienso así lo consideran la mayoría de los que opinan en ésta publicación, felicidades! a todos ellos de ésta muy humilde servidora.
I'm most amazed at the ones where you didn't even notice they had any prosthetics on. They look so natural, with very subtle changes that really drive the character home.
This shows how talented the men and women of the make-up, wardrobe and physical effects teams on films are. They should get much more recognition than just one little oscar for their whole job. I am amazed and impressed by their talent
I wonder how hot and uncomfortable it is under all of that? It must feel so good to get it all removed at the end of the day.
This post should include people who started special effects makeup; people like Jack P Pierce and D**k Smith. I could geek out on this stuff all day, the amount of creativity and time that goes into this work is amazing. I would say that from this post Doug Jones, Nicole Kidman, Gary Oldman, Eddie Murphy and Tilda Swindon are the best actors that can perform in makeup.
When a fantasy character has to be created or when an actor has to play his older self in the same movie, I get it that make-up is really important - and the shown results here are outstanding. But sometimes it seems that better someone else should have been casted. Like Nicole Kidman in Destroyer and Margot Robbie (both in the extended series). Why change someone into another someone? Looks like art for arts sake.
Seems that Gary Oldman may be the #1 Actor to have SFX Make-UP Applied on A Single Role as to the number of the films he has starred while Eddie Murphy may be the #1 Actor in the Most Roles SFX Make-UP Applied on in multiple films! THIS Opinion, is NOT solely based on this post, though.
Asombrada y maravillada por el increíble trabajo de éstos artistas, que pienso así lo consideran la mayoría de los que opinan en ésta publicación, felicidades! a todos ellos de ésta muy humilde servidora.
